Do you celebrate a cancer-versary? Are you wondering what is a cancer-versary?
Well, that depends a bit on the person. For me, I have two cancer-versaries I can’t forget, even if I want to. One is January 2nd, the day I received my diagnosis. The other is March 6th, the day I became cancer free (to the best of my knowledge and that of a highly skilled team of doctors). Others, particularly those with metastatic breast cancer, may celebrate other milestones, like beating certain odds they were given. While still others, due to recurrence, may have many more dates that they recognize in some form.
I meant to write an update to share what it’s like now at my one-year cancer-free cancer-versary, but life had other plans. My hope had been that I'd be feeling similar to a friend who three-years after her mastectomy told me by text, “[Having breast cancer] is hardly something I remember. It’s like it never even happened.”
My path is different from hers. As my one-year anniversary approached, the writing was already on the wall – I would need more surgery. My life was not at risk, you could call it maintenance really, but still, surgery is surgery. And as it turned out, I needed two more surgeries. In a “let’s get this over with” decision, I elected (foolishly) to have them back-to-back in April.
And now, it’s May, and exactly the right moment to talk again publicly because May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I think it’s important to acknowledge how much cancer can weigh on a person’s mind and alter your entire sense of self. You can feel like your body is not your own, like it’s betrayed you, and you do not recognize it anymore. And how we all process that change is as varied as, well, I don’t know, snowflakes? And it can shift, too.
As October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month drew to a close, I’ll admit that I took off the necklace I wore daily to signal, “I’m opening to talking about breast cancer.” I was exhausted by it. I needed a break from all things cancer.
Now on the other side of these latest issues, I feel that call to engage again in the cancer community and raise my hand to ask, “How can I help?” People look for silver linings in the darkness, finding ways to help is mine.
How can breast cancer survivors help each other?
If you’re also looking for ways to connect with or support others in the breast cancer (or another!) community the answer is simple: Show up!
Volunteer. Did you know some infusion centers allow volunteers to sit with people as they receive their chemo treatment or to help transport them to/from appointments? Yes, there’s a bit of red tape, but you can do it!
If you’re thinking, nope, not for me, what can I do from home? Consider volunteering your health data, sharing it quickly, easily, securely via the ShareForCures breast cancer research registry by Susan G. Komen.
For me, it was a no brainer to securely share my health data for research. We give away our data every day for less! We give it away so we can have a social media account without ads. We give it away for tiny 10 and 15% discounts. We give it away so we can use an app we can't live without. So why not give your data, not for profit, but to save lives in the future? Learn more ->
Share publicly. Sharing your cancer story does not mean announcing any or every detail of your experience on social media or on a podcast. It certainly can mean that.
I chose to share publicly even though I have a lukewarm relationship at best with social media. I did it so I could immediately reach the most people with two messages: I am here to help, and I beg you, get your screenings. Sadly, despite some truly astounding improvements in detection and treatments, modern medicine remains best equipped to treat cancer that’s caught early.
Sharing your cancer experience can also be about opening up in more intimate one-on-one conversations or group settings.
My neighbor confessed to skipping a 6-month follow-up scan after I privately shared my cancer diagnosis with her. She immediately scheduled her scan and luckily remains cancer free. Early detection matters and your story can make that difference for someone!
I was in San Diego recently for work and the conference organizers mentioned a free yoga class. I signed up as did five others from the conference, a couple of whom I had met before. I shared that I had just had surgery linked to my cancer and needed some move modifications. One thing led to another and it turned out that four of the six of us had already gone through breast cancer. I was the youngest by some margin, but four out of six! I was stunned. We started swapping stories and tips. I even bought a new scar cream to try as a result.
Pick up the phone. Have a friend going through treatment? Answer when they call. Text them when they have appointments. Make plans together that fit their treatment and recovery schedules.
Even as a cancer survivor, it can be so easy to worry about what is the right thing to say to someone going through cancer treatment that we say nothing at all. Unless you really go unhinged with claims that are not backed by science, religious dogma, or all the reasons why you think they brought this on themselves, I’m fairly certain that they will hear your concern and not judge you for what you do or do not say.
Just show up. That’s enough.
How We’re Helping at Artifcts
When it comes to making lemonade from the lemons that are cancer, I’m in the less common position of being the co-founder of a company. And not just any company, but a company that cancer patients, survivors, and thrivers can use throughout their journeys as a sort of private digital scrapbook.
2024 – We Were Just Getting Started
Last year, Team Artifcts raised more than $8,000 through fundraising for the Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK walks in Washington D.C. and Austin, Texas. Not only did friends and family join us at these walks but members of the Artifcts community and business partners, too. That’s the difference between caring for not only what you’re building, but how and why you’re building it, too.
Artifcts also raised $2,500 as a partner through Artifcts gift memberships sold here. You can even choose a pink ribbon themed gift!
And I served on the Executive Leadership Committee for the MORE THAN PINK walk in Austin, Texas, to help bring in corporate sponsorships.
2025 – We’re In This for the Long Haul
As we look ahead, Artifcts has renewed its Friends of Komen agreement with Susan G. Komen. Buy a membership for yourself or as a gift and we’ll donate to Susan G. Komen. Buy or a gift a membership today -->
I will also serve on the Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK walk Executive Leadership Committe again, this year turning my dreamer nature to a local marketplace filled with products and experiences beneficial to cancer patients, survivors, and supporters.
We’ll also continue to share new resources we learn about to help all those affected by cancer. One of our favorites is We Got This (wegotthis.org), which is a gift registry for cancer thrivers and supporters. The founder Elissa Kalver’s story is one that at the start reminds us all to listen to our bodies and fight for our voices to be heard. But as We Got This and the movement around it grows, we’re in constant awe at what one person with a mission and vision can do to help so many.
Last but not least, I am announcing here and now my standing offer to provide free virtual workshops for cancer communities. During these workshops, I share my own surprising use of Artifcts as a private, digital scrapbook to document all things breast cancer. We walk through examples of how you can privately Artifct in a journal format or scrapbook style (all the gifts, cards, flowers and more) and create sharing lists and circles with others in your network. We each create an Artifct together during the workshop, with the option to share live with other participants.
If you need someone to talk with, reach out. I am here for you: Ellen@Artifcts.com.
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